Battle of Marengo

The Battle of Marengo (14 June 1800) was a major battle of the War of the Second Coalition that was fought between the armies of France and the Holy Roman Empire. The French army of Napoleon Bonaparte decisively defeated an Austrian army at Marengo, driving the Austrians out of Italy and solidifying Napoleon's position as First Consul after the Coup of 18 Brumaire that previous November.

In mid-April 1800, the Austrians advanced on Genoa, so Napoleon Bonaparte hastily led his army over the Alps in May and reached Milan on 2 June. The French converged on the Austrian army near Alessandria, but the Austrians surprised the French at Marengo. Their two attacks across the Fontanone stream near the village, and Jean Lannes reinforced the French right. Bonaparte withdrew Louis Desaix's detachment and sent in his reserves, taking part in hard fighting against the Austrians. Desaix later returned with his troops, stabilizing the French lines. The Austrian advance was delayed by Desaix, who perished during the fighting. Francois Etienne de Kellermann's cavalry launched a surprise attack against the Austrians, killing, wounding, or capturing 14,000 Austrian troops as they withdrew towards Alessandria. The French line pursued the Austrians to seal a political victory that secured Bonaparte's grip on power after his coup. Marengo was one of Bonaparte's greatest triumphs, as it drove the Austrians from Italy and helped to bring an end to the Second Coalition.